Using Family History to Improve Your Health What’s Your ...sYourStory.pdfUsing Family History to Improve Your Health ... árbol familiar “¿Cuál es tu historia?”. Diles que
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• Have students collect their family health history by using the What’s Your Family Health Story? Health Family Tree Information Box.
• After they have completed their family histories, students create a pedigree for their family by cutting out and arranging the individual checklists from the Health Family Tree Information Box.
Discussion Points:
• Students who do not have access to information from blood relatives should still complete a family health history. Genetics is only one factor in determining disease risk. Our shared environment, habits, and cultural traditions also play an important role in influencing overall health.
Instead of creating a pedigree using the Health Family Tree Information Box checklists, have students draw a classic pedigree chart of their family, tracking one of the health problems listed on the Health Family Tree Information Box. Draw You Family Pedigree (Page S-5) will help them get started.
U.S. National Science Education Standards
Grades 9-12:• Content Standard F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives- Personal and Community Health; Families
serve basic health needs, especially for young children. Regardless of the family structure, individuals have families that involve a variety of physical, mental, and social relationships that influence the maintenance and improvement of health.
April Mitchell, Genetic Science Learning CenterHarmony Starr, Genetic Science Learning Center (Illustrations)
This project is supported by grant U33MC00157 from the Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Genetic Services Branch and the March of Dimes.
Getting StartedExplain to your relatives that you are interested in the family’s health story. Collect some basic health information about your family members using the What’s Your Story? Health Family Tree Information Box. Let them know that any information they provide will help you and your entire family improve their health.
What’s Your Family Health Story?How to Gather Family Health Information
Common Health Problems that Run in Families
• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Asthma
• Osteoporosis
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Depression
“ The only thing you have control over in your family health history is to empower yourself enough to be aware of what you’re potentially at risk of so you can recognize the symptoms or prevent the disease from occuring.” - Arianna
Corin Royal Drumm
ond
The next time you’re at a family gathering, make sharing your family health stories a tradition. It may save your life and the lives of those you love!
“The knowledge a person has of their family’s health history could be life saving, if that person chooses to heed the possibilities” - Judy
Recording family health history is an important first step to improving your own health. Collecting this information can be helpful regardless of your family structure or access to blood relatives. In addition to genetics, your shared environment, habits and cultural traditions play a role in influencing your overall health.
Sharing family health information with your doctor can help predict what you need to do to stay healthy.
How to Interview Your FamilyThe health stories of your siblings, parents and grandparents will be the most useful to your doctor. You may also want to gather information about your aunts and uncles, half-brothers or half-sisters (if any) and cousins.
Follow-up QuestionsIf a relative has experienced a health problem, ask follow-up questions that will help you learn more. Find out how old they were when the health problem started, and ask about any lifestyle factors that may have contributed to the problem (diet, exercise, overweight, smoking, etc.).
Living relatives can also provide important health information about family members who are deceased. Find out how old a family member was when they died and ask about the cause of death.
Remember to be respectful of others’ wishes. Some family members may be reluctant to share their health information with you. Just ask them to share what they can.
Additional ResourcesVisit the following websites to obtain more information about family health history, including additional tools your family can use!
Learn.Genetics (http://learn.genetics.utah.edu) Using Family History to Improve Your Health contains information about common diseases that run in families, and what it means to be “at risk”.
The Utah Department of Health (http://health.utah.gov/genomics/familyhistory/toolkit.html) Family Health History Toolkit contains materials for your family, plus links to more information about the importance of knowing your family’s health history.
“I was surprised to learn what I did about my health family history. It wasn’t until I put it into a pedigree, or family tree, that I began to see the pattern of depression that ran from generation to generation.”- Jenny
“I try to be a good example and share what I know about our family health history so future generations won’t have to worry about repeating the same fate.” - Marian
Important to Find Out
• A description of any health problems
• The age at diagnosis (when the condition started)
Draw Your Family PedigreeOn a separate sheet of paper, create a pedigree for your family, tracking one of the health problems listed on the Health Information Record. The symbol key and example below will help you get started.
Cómo comenzarExplica a tus familiares que estás interesado en el historial de salud de tu familia. Recopila datos básicos sobre la salud de tus familiares con el cuadro de información sobre la salud del árbol familiar “¿Cuál es tu historia?”. Diles que cualquier dato que puedan darte ayudará a toda la familia a mejorar la salud.
¿ Cuáles son los antecedentes del historial de salud de tu familia?Cómo recopilar información sobre la salud de la familia
La próxima vez que estés en una reunión familiar, haz que compartirlas historias de salud de la familia sea una tradición. ¡Puede salvar tu vida y la vida de quienes amas!
Problemas de salud comunes que se traspasan en la familia
• Enfermedades coronarias
• Cáncer
• Accidentes cerebro-vasculares
• Diabetes
• Asma
• Osteoporosis
• Presión arterial alta
• Colesterol alto
• Depresión
“El conocimiento de una persona sobre el historial de salud de su familia puede salvar vidas, si esa persona escoge prestar atención a las posibilidades” - Judy
“ Lo único que puedes controlar en el historial de salud familiar es tu capacitación para conocer los posibles riesgos que tienes, y así poder reconocer los síntomas o evitar una enfermedad.” - Arianna
Corin Royal Drumm
ond
Registrar la información sobre la salud de la familia y compartirla con el médico es un primer paso importante para mejorar la salud, sin importar la estructura familiar.
Rastrear las enfermedades comunes en tu familia ayudará a tu médico a predecir lo que necesitas hacer para estar saludable.
Cómo entrevistar a tu familiaLas historias de salud de tus hermanos, padres y abuelos son las más útiles para tu médico. También recopila datos sobre tíos, medio hermanos (si los tienes) y primos.
Preguntas de controlSi un pariente ha tenido un problema de salud, realiza las preguntas de control que te ayuden a aprender más. Pregúntales cuántos años tenían cuando comenzó el problema de salud, y sobre los factores de estilo de vida que hayan podido contribuir al problema (dieta, ejercicio, sobrepeso, cigarrillo, etc.).
Los parientes en vida también pueden brindar información de salud importante sobre los familiares que han fallecido. Averigua cuántos años tenía un familiar que haya muerto y pregunta la causa de la muerte.
Recuerda respetar los deseos de los demás. Algunos familiares quizá no quieran compartir su información de salud contigo. Sólo pídeles que compartan lo que puedan.
Recursos adicionalesVisita los siguientes sitios de Internet para obtener más información sobre el historial de salud familiar, con herramientas adicionales que tu familia puede utilizar.
Learn.Genetics (http://learn.genetics.utah.edu) Using Family History to Improve Your Health contiene información sobre enfermedades comunes que se traspasan en familias y qué significa estar “en riesgo”.
The Utah Department of Health (http://health.utah.gov/genomics/familyhistory/toolkit.html) Family Health History Toolkit contiene material para tu familia y enlaces para obtener más información sobre la importancia de conocer el historial de salud de tu familia.
“Me sorprendió saber lo que logré al analizar el historial de salud de mi familia. Cuando lo ubiqué en un árbol genealógico, comencé a ver patrones de depresión que se transmitían de generación en generación.”- Jenny
“Intento ser un buen ejemplo y compartir lo que sé sobre el historial de salud de mi familia para que generaciones futuras no repitan los mismos problemas.” - Marian
Es Importante Saber Sobre
• Una descripción de los problemas de salud
• La edad al recibir el diagnóstico (cuándo comenzó el problema)
Cómo dibujar el árbol de tu familiaEn una hoja aparte, dibuja el árbol de tu familia, rastreando uno de los problemas de salud enumerados en el Registro de Información sobre la Salud. Los símbolos y ejemplos que figuran a continuación te ayudarán a comenzar.